Flat-knitting machine



April 14, 1931. w. HElNlTz 1,301,155

l FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm1 N I V611 [a r.'

' Waldemar Hein/'fz April 14, 1931. w. HElNlTz 1,801,156

` FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 14, 193 w. HlNlTz 1,801,156

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed J'uly 17, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Agr. 14, 1931 UNITED sTATEs" PATENT -ol-FlcE WOLDEMAR HEINITZ, 0F CHEMNITZ, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR T0 SCHUBERT & SALZER MASCHINENFABRIK, AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF CHEMNITZ, GERMANY FLAT-KNITTING MACHINE Application led July 17, 1930, Serial No. 468,655, and in Germany December 15, 1928.

My invention relates to flat knitting machines and more particularly to the operating mechanism for the thread guides.

It is an object of my invention to so design the aforesaid mechanism that a brake is set immediately upon the breaking of the connection of the thread guides with the operating mechanism. y

To this end I'provide the usual reciproeating rod for operating the thread guides,`

a frame which is adapted to be operatively connected with the reciprocating rod, means for connecting the frame withthe thread guides, a brake adapted to arrest the frame, and means for alternately connecting the frame with the reciprocating rod and for applying the brake.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide a fixed rod which is parallel to the reciprocating rod, and may be arranged at the same level with, above or below the reciprocating rod, as desired, and is adapted to be engaged by the brake, and I further provide means for a plying the bra-ke to the fixed brake rod immediately upon disconnecting the frame from the reciprocating rod.

It is another object of my invention to adapt the operation of the mechanism to variations in the speed of the knitting machine.

To this end I provide a governor in colnbination with the usual fashioning mechanism' which governor iniuences the position of the checks for controlling the operation of the brake-guide operating mechanism in conformity with the variations of speed. Normally, that is, without the governor I rovide, the checks are moved infaccordance with the fashioning of the work being knitted, but the variable relative velocity at which the checks are struck hy a latch or other part on the frame for controlling the mechanismis not considered. The consequence is, that at high speeds the operation of the thread-guide operating mechanism is not timed exactly with respect to the fashioning mechanism. For instance, the operation will be widely different for speeds of, say

20 rows minute.

In order to eliminate this drawback I so desi the checks under the control of the fash1oning mechanism that they are not only displaced laterally, as in the normal operation of the fashioning mechanism, but in addition are raised and lowered by the governor in conformity with the speed variations of the machine. This results in a very delicate adjustment of the checks but an even higher degree of exactitude is obtained by providing the checks with inclined operating surfaces so that not only the vertical and horizontal position of the checks with respect to the latch or other part on the frame is varied, but the position of the point where the latch is engaged by the checks undergoes a further variation on account of the inclined faces of the checks.

In the drawings affixed to this specification and forming part thereof a machine embodying my invention is illustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation showing one end of the machine, partly' broken away and viewed from the rear, i. e. from the side opposite the operators position,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine viewed from the'right in Fig. l, and partly in section on the line II-II in Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III in per minute, and of 80 rows per Fig. l, 4

ig. 4 is a plan view of the machine,

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V in Fig. 2,

Figs: 6-13 illustrate details of the brake operating mechanism as follows: I,

Figs. 6 and 7 are sections of the brake frame on the line VI-VI in Fig. 1, showing the parts of the mechanism in two distinct positions,

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the brake frame vieved as in Fig. l, but drawn to a larger' sca e,

Figs. 9 and 10 are sections on the correspcn ing line in Figs. 6 and 7 respectively, an

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 show a check for cooperation with the-,brake mechanism in end elevation viewed as'indicated by the arrow XI in Figs. 8, in side elevation, and in plan view, respectively.

' 'Referring now to the drawings and first to Figs. 1 and 4, 1 is the frame of the machine which will not be described in full detail as it is designed as usually, 2 is the main driving shaft of the machine, 3 is a spur gear on the main driving shaft, and 5 is a pinion on a lav shaft 6 by which a governor' 7 is operated through the medium of bevel gearing 8, 9.

The machine is equipped With the usual thread-guide bars 10 and thread guides 11, Fig. 2, the bars being fitted to slide in slotted brackets 12 on the frame 1, which brackets are supported on a longitudinal bar 4.

- 13 is "the usual reciprocating rod for actuatof the sleeve 19, and supports the pins 18 by' ing the thread guides, and 14 is a fixed rod for braking the thread guides.. Reciprocation is imparted to the rod 13 by any suitable means, not shown, while the fixed rod 14 is held in position by two brackets, 15, 16, Figs. 1 and 4. 'The brackets are held at their front ends by a support 101 on a flat bar 102 of the frame 1, and at their rear ends by a rod 103 on which they may be clamped With slotted eyes. Mounted to slide on the rods 13 and' 14 is a brake frame 17 which is slotted for the reception of the two rods', as best seen in Figs. 5. 18 is a piu which is fitted to slide'in a sleeve 19 of the frame 17 against the action ofaspring 20. The spring is abutted on a shoulder 21 at the lower end a flange 22.' The portion of the pin which is above the flange 22 is'equipped with a rack 23. 24 is a pinion in mesh with the rack 23, and 25 is a shaft which is mounted to rotate in the frame 17 and on which thel pinion 24 is secured. 26 and 27 are cams on the shaft 25, and 28 and 29 are double-armed"rocking lei vers which are fulcrumed in the frajne`17\at 30 and 31, respectively. 32 and 33 are vblade springs which are operatively connected with the brake levers 28 and 29, respectively. Each spring cooperates With a block in-the frame 17. One of the blocks is adapted tof-be applied to the reciprocating rod 13 by the le'.- ver 29 and its spring 33, these parts constituting a clutch forconnecting' the frame 17 with the reciprocating rod 13 and the other block, vWhich is shown in section at 34 in Fig. 10, is adapted to be applied to the brake rod 14 by the lever 28 and its spring 32, these parts constituting a brake. lVhen the shaft 25 is rotated by the rack 23 on the pin 18, the cams 26 and 27 alternately operate the clutching lever 29 with its spring 33, and the brake lever 28 with its spring 32.

35 is a latch in the pin on the frame 17 at 36, and 37 is a tooth projecting forwardly from thevlatch 35 and adapted to engage a notch 38 in the pin 18. p

The thread-guide bars 10 are connected with the frame 17 by means of a dog 39 which is hinged in a block-40 at one end of the frame 17 and is adapted to engage projections 41 on thethread-guide bars 10, Figs. 1 and 4. Figs. 6 and 8 show the dog 39 in its inactive position with respect to the projections 41.

Means for controlling the pin 18, and consequently the brake lever 28 and the clutching lever 29, comprise a pair of checks 42 and 43, Fig. 1, and a reciprocating head 44. The checks 42 and 43 are reciprocated by the Vfashioning mechanism', not shown, and are 49 is a roller at the upper end of the pin- 18 which is adapted to be engaged by the reciprocating head `44. The means for imparting reciprocation tothe head include a cam plate 50 on the driving shaft 2, with a concentric portion 51 and a cam portion 52. 53 is a roller which is adapted to cooperate lwith the concentric and the cam portions.

54 is a bearing block on the framel in whichl a rocking lever 55 is fulcrumed on a horizontal pin at 56, Fig. 4. The rear end of the rocking lever is pivotally connected with a vvertical rod 57 to the upper end of which the head 44 is secured. The vertical rod is fitted to slide in a sleeve 104 which is supported on a bar .105. The bar 105, in turn, is held by brackets 106, 107 on the bar 103.

58 is a pin at the front end of the lever 55 on which the boss of the roller 53 is fitted 'to rotate and'to be displaced axially. By

displacing 'the roller 53 it is alternately moved into operative connection With the concentric portion 51 and the cam portion 52. l59 isa second rocking lever which is also fulcrumed on the block 54, but about a vertical pin 60. The front end of the lever "engages a groove in the boss of the roller 53,

'while its rear end is engaged by a rod 61. This rod 61 forms part of a control mechanisin "ivhich is actua'ed from a ratchet wheel 62 on a'shaft 63, Fig. 1. The means for rotating theratchet Wheel at intervals are not shown. 64 is a chain or belt equipped with projections 65 and supported on a pulley 66 on the shaft 63 and a pulley 67 on the frame of the machine, 68 and 69 being guiding pnl-- leys for the chain oibelt. 70 is a bell crank lever which is fulcrunied at 71. Une of its arms is provided WithA a hook 1 for cooperation with the projections 65 on the chain or belt 64. 73 is a rod by which the other end of the bell crank lever 70 is connected with the ratchet lever 74., The ratchet lever 74 Vis mounted to rock on the frame 1. 75 is a pawl on the ratchet lever 74 and 76 is a ratchet vvheel for cooperation with the pawl. 77 lisa bearing on the frame 1 in which the shaft 78 of the ratchet Wheel is supported, and 79 is a cam drum which is fitted on th shaft 78 with the ratchet wheel 76. The cam drum 79 has a set ofcams 80 and a set of rocking levers 81, oneper cam. In the present instance six levers lhave been shown. i The levers 81, one percam. In the present inin the 'extension of the bearing 77. The first lever 81 is connected with the rod 61 and the next rocking lever is connected with another rod 84 and another brake mechanism, not shown.

As often as the bell crank lever 17 is en- 'gagedby one of the projections 55 on the chain or belt 64, the ratchet Wheel 75 is rotated for onel itch. The rotation is translated into roc 'ng movement of the levers 81 by means of the corresponding cams 80 of the drum 79, and the movement of the lever or levers is transmitted to the roller 53, vso as to change its position with respect to the concentric and cam portions 51 and 52.

As mentioned,the checks 42 and 43 are fitted to slide in the brackets 45 and'46. This sliding arrangement is provided With'the object o f controlling the checks by the governor 7 so4 as'to vary their position with respect to the latch 35. To this end the spindle 85 of the governor is equipped with an antifriction bearing 86 at its upper end, Fig. 2,

-'which maybe a ball. or roller bearing, as*- desired. The anti-friction bearing 86 cooperates With a lever 87 whichis fitted to rock about a short pin 88 onvthe frame of (the machine, with its free end ybearing on the anti-friction means 86. 97 are anti-friction means, such as a ball or roller bearing, pro- ,i vided on the upper face of the lev"er 487, and@ 98 is a rocking lever on a shaft 96which -beai's on thel anti-friction means 97. 89 and 90,' Fig. 4, are bearings in which the shaft 96 is fitted to rock, 94 and 95 are levers which are secured on the shaft in the vicinityfof the push rods 91, 92 and 93 is a rail which, connects the free ends of the levers and engages below the lower ends of the push rods 91, 92 so that the push rods are displaced in the brackets 45 and 46 under the control of the governor 7. By interposing the rail 93 intermediate the parts controlled by the governor 7 and the ends of the push rods 91 and 92 the action of one-sided forces is balanced so that the push rods move freely in their brackets 45 and 46. This is necessary yas the operation of the fashioning mechanism is very delicate and must not be interfered with by friction resulting from such forces.

As shown in Figs. 11 to 13, the checks 42 and 43 are provided with inclined faces for cooperation with the latch 35. In this manner the exactitude of the adjustment of the checks with respect to the latch is further increased as will appear from the description of the operation.

Assume that the pin 18 has been depressed by the reciprocating head 44 acting on the roller 49, as shown in F ig. 6, and that the reciprocating rod 13 moves toward the left 1n ig 1 The depressed pin is locked in its position by the projection 37 of the latch 35 which engages the notch 38 of the spring by gravity. In' this position of the pin 18 the cam 27 raises the rear end of the clutching lever 29 forcing down the spring 33 and the block allotted to the reciprocating rod 13 while the cam 26 is disengaged from the brake lever 28 so that no tension is put on the spring 32 for the brake rod 14, and the frame 17 is free to move With the rod 13. When the dog 39 is engaged with one of the projections 41 on the thread-guide bars 10,the bar,or bars, which has thus been engaged, is entrained by the rod 13. Vhen the stroke ofthe threadguide bar, or bars, has nearly been completed,

the latch 35 strikes the check 42 and its projection 37 is forced out of the notch 38 oi the pin 18. The'spring y20 now jerks the pin l8upwards, as shown in Fig. 7, the head 44 having previously been retracted as Will be descr1bed. The shaft 25 is now again rotated and the cam 26 raises the rear end of the brake lever 28, forcing down the spring 32 and setting the brake-block 34 on the brakerod 14, While at the same time the spring 33 for the reciprocating rod 13 is released by the clutching lever 28, so that it is free to perform its normal movement While the frame 17 is arrested immediately upon engagement of `the checks 42 with the latch 35, and the thread-guide bar 10, or bars, which is connected With the frame 17 by means ot the dog 39, is also arrested immediately.

When the rod 13 has arrived at the letth'and end ot'its stroke it starts for itsV return stroke to the right. In the meantime, through the medium of the belt 64, the drum 79 has been rotated and the roller 53 has been transferred to the cam portion 52 of the cam 50 from its concentric portion 51. This causes lowering of the head 44 through the medium 'the'mechanisms described, the pin 18 is depressed and locked by the latch 35, as described ,rvh'ile at the same time the spring 32 allotted tothe brake rod 14 is released and the frame 17 is connected with the reciprocating rod 13 by the spring 33. The frame 17 is now entrained by the reciprocating rod 13 but in the opposite direction, until the latch 35 strikes the check 43 whereupon the pin 18 is jerked up by the spring22, the head 44 having again been retracted. The connection of the frame with the reciprocating rod 13v is broken While the brake is set on `the brake rod 14.

The function of the governor 7 is to make up for irregularities in the speed of the machine. When the speed increases, the spindle 85 is raised, raising the lever 87 and rocking it about the pin 88. The movement of the lever is transmitted to the rail 93 by the means described and the checks 42 and 43 are raised so t-hat another point of the inclined face of each check is struck by the latch 35. Therefore, when the speed is too high, the connection oi' the ,frame 17 with the reciprocating rod 13 will be interrupted and the frame 17 will be arrested at an earlier moment, While, conversely, when the speed becomes too low, the checks 42, 43 are set by they governor so as to retard the momentl at which the frame is disconnected from the rod 13 and arrested by being connected with the brake rod 14. In this manner it is possible to effect the operation of the brake in conformity with the speed, and, as mentioned, to time it very exactly by properly determining the inclination and configuration of the faces at the checks 42 and 43.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of coniI struction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. v i

In the claims afiixed to this specification no selection of any particular modification of the invention is intended to the. exclusion of other modifications thereof and the right to subsequently make claim to any modification not covered by these claims is expressly reserved. i

LA flat knitting machine having thread guides and mechanism including a reciprocating rod for operating said thread guides and comprising a frame,"means for connecting the frame with said thread guides, a brake on said frame, a fixed brake rod on said machine, and means for alternately connecting said frame with said reciprocating rod and for applying said brake to said fixed rod.

2. A fiat knitting machine having thread guides and mechanism including a reclprocating rod for operating said thread guides and comprising a frame, means for connecting the frame with said thread guldes, a brake on said frame, a fixed brake rod on said machine, means for alternately connecting said frame with said reciprocatmg rod, and for applying said brake to said fixed rod, and means on said machine for controlling said connecting and brake-applying means.

3. A flat knitting machine having thread guides and mechanism including a reciprocating rod for operating said thread guides and comprising a frame, means for connecting the frame with said thread guides, a

brake on said frame, a fixed brake `rod on said machine, means including a reciprocat- -with said reciprocating rod and for applying said brake to said fixed rod.

4. A flat knitting machine havingthread guides and mechanism including a reci rocating rod for operating said thread guldes and comprising a frame, means for connecting the frame With said thread guides, a brake on said frame, a fixed brake rod on said machine, means including a reciprocating pin on said frame, a latch for locking said pin, a pair of checks operatively connected with the fashioning mechanism of said machine for throwing out said latch, means under the action of the speed variations of said machine for varying the position of said checks with respect to said fashioning mechanism, a reciprocating head operatively connected with a continuously moving belt on said machine and adapted to return said pin to the position in which it is locked by said latch, and means operatively connected with said pin for alternately connectingcsaids frame with said reciprocating rod and for applying said brake to said fixed rod.

5. A fiat knitting machine having thread guides and mechanism including a reciprocating rod for operating said thread guides and comprising a frame, meansfor connecting the frame with said thread guides, a brake on said frame," a fixed brake rod Von said machine, means including a reciprocating spring-controlled pin on said frame, a latch for locking said pin, a pair of checks operatively connected with the fashioning mechanism of said machine for throwing out said latch, a reciprocating head operatively connected with a continuously moving belt on said machine and adapted to return said pin to the lposition in which it is locked by said latch, and means operatively connected with said pin for alternately connecting said frame with said reciprocating rod and for applying said brake to said fixed rod.

6. A flat knitting machine having thread guides and mechanism includinga reciprocating rod for operating said thread guides and comprising a frame, means for connecting the frame with said thread guides, a brake on said frame, a fixed brake rod on said machine, a reciprocating pin on said frame, means for moving said pin in opposite directions, a shaft adapted to be rotated upon reciprocation of said pin, a clutch on said frame adaptedto connect said frame with said reciprocating rod, and means onl said shaft- :for alternately applying said? clutch to said reciprocating r'od, and said bra`l e to said fixed rod.

7. A iiat knitting machine having thread guides and mechanism including a reciprocating rod for operating said thread guides and comprising a frame, means for connecting the frame with said thread guides, a brake on said frame, a fixed brake rod. on said machine, a reciprocating pin on said frame, means for moving said pin in opposite directions, a rack on said pin, a shaft, a pinion on said shaft meshing'with said rack, a pair of cams on said shaft, a pair of rocking levers adapted to be operated by said cams, one of said levers being operatively connected with said brake, and a clutch on said frame adapted to connect said frame with said reciproeating rod .and operatively connected with the other rocking lever; l

8. A' flat knitting machine having thread guides and mechanism including a reciprocating rod for operating said thread guides and comprising a frame, means for connecting the frame withvsaid thread guides, a brake on said frame, a fixed brake rod on said machine, means including a reciprocating pin on said frame, a latch locking said pin, a

air of checks 'operatively connected with'the ashioning mechanism of said machine for throwing out said latch, a reciprocating head operatively connected with a continuously moving belt on said machine and adapted to return said pin to the position in which it is locked by said latch, a cam and a concentric disc adagitcd to be rotated by the driving means o said machine, a roller operatively connected with said head and adapted to alternately cooperate with said cam and said disc, means operatively connected with said belt for varying the position of said `roller with respect tosaid cam and said disc, and means operatively connected with said pin for alternately connecting said frame with said reci rocatin rod and for a l in said brake tolsaid fixegd rod. pp y 9. A iiat knitting machine having thread guides and mechanism including a reciprocating rod for operating said thread guides and comprising a frame, `means for connecting the frame with said thread guides, a brake on said frame, a xed brake rod on said machine, means for alternately connecting said frame with said reciprocating' rod and' for applying said'brake to said fixed rod, means on said frame'for locking said connecting and break-applying means,I a pair of checks adapted to control said'locking means and connected with the fashioning mechanism of said' machine 'so as to be reciprocated thereby, and means controlled by the speed variations of said machine for overlaying the reciprocating -on said frame,I a fixed brake rod on said machine, means for alternately connecting said frame with said reciprocating rod and for applying said brake to said ixed rod, means on said frame for locking said connecting and break-applying means, a pair of checks adapted to control said locking means and connected with the fashioning mechanism of said machine, so as to be reciprocated thereby, means controlled by the speed variations of said machine for overlaying the reciprocatin'g movement of said checks with another movement, and inclined faces on said checks for engaging said lockin means.

I In testimony whereof aiiix m signature.

' Y WOLDEMAR H INITZ.

Ino 

